California Cookbook

Cantonese Poached Fish With Ginger and Green Onions

Bob Carey / Los Angeles Times

By Jet Tila | Feb. 2, 2000

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy New Year! To celebrate the coming of the New Year, the Chinese prepare certain foods because they have a specific meaning. Whole fish symbolizes togetherness and abundance and is a very important New Year's food; ...
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Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy New Year! To celebrate the coming of the New Year, the Chinese prepare certain foods because they have a specific meaning. Whole fish symbolizes togetherness and abundance and is a very important New Year's food; the green onions that top the fish are a sign of brilliance.

There are rules to preparing whole fish. Always keep the fish intact while cooking and never turn it over. To serve, filet the upper portion of the fish, cutting horizontally along the bone. Cut the bone at the neck, then peel it back to remove it and reach the bottom portion of the fish.

This is a classic Chinese poached fish recipe. Any white meat fish can be substituted for the trout. Serve the poached fish with warm steamed rice, which symbolizes wealth and prosperity. A sweet conclusion to your Chinese New Year meal would be tangerines to guarantee you abundant happiness for the year to come.